Police Director Michael Cozzaglio, right, and state police Lt. Brian Foley addressed substance abuse at MediTerra on Monday during the nb21 North Adams Strategy Team kick off.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — State and local officials, law enforcement, community leaders and interested citizens met at MediTerra on Monday to kick off the nb21 North Adams Strategy Team, which aims to curb substance and alcohol abuse.

 

The Northern Berkshire Community Coalition program nb21 — which stands for not before 21, not in Northern Berkshire — stresses the importance of drug prevention and education.

 

"The reality of the health care system is that prevention is a lot less expensive than treatment and recovery," said Lois Daunis, the coaliton's program coordinator.

 

The strategy team, led by the coaltion's Jessica Dennis, is seeking members to meet once a month and brainstorm ideas to address the area's substance abuse problems.

 

Dennis said it is important for people with various backgrounds, including law enforcement, mental health professionals, teachers, business leaders and local officials, to become involved.

 

North Adams is the third community to have a strategy team through the coalition, funded by Community Development Block Grants.

 

Daunis said the coalition's efforts have been paying off with compliance-check rates improving and increased alcohol server training, which focuses on both checking IDs and knowing when to cut a customer off.

 

The coalition also surveys teenagers on their alcohol and drug use, and attempts to inform their parents through pamphlets.

 

Police Director Michael Cozzaglio echoed that the city needs to work together to address and solve the problem. He said the increased police presence will also continue.

 

Jessica Dennis will lead the city's strategy team, which hopes to reduce underage drinking and substance abuse.

"We're going to continue to plow forward," Cozzaglio said.

 

Cozzaglio and State Police Lt. Brian Foley said the prescription drugs come from bigger cities to the county for larger profits, while some dealers sell just to finance their own addiction. They hope to bust the large, out-of-town suppliers.

 

State Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, said addicts need hope and support from others.

 

"We can't afford to give up on people in the Berkshires," Downing said. "We need to make sure that everyone has the chances, the opportunities, and have the support to make the most of themselves."

 

Downing credited the community and coalition for addressing the issue instead of turning a blind eye to it.

 

"Too often when it comes to substance abuse, mental health, addiction and other difficult challenges like these, instead of talking about the problem, knowing full well we might not know what the solution will be in a year, we refuse to talk about those things... I never have to worry about that being the case in the Northern Berkshires," Downing said.

 

To become involved with the nb21 North Adams Strategy Team, contact Dennis at jdennis@nbccoalition.org.